Illuminated inner trim for vehicles

Abstract

Illuminated inner trim for vehicles comprising a substrate, a decorative lining, and integrated between these a set of LEDs that can provide a decorative illumination such that when on they are visible through the decorative lining as well-defined points of light, while when off they are unseen. Specifically, when said LEDs are on and the vehicle occupants change their angle of vision with respect to the LEDs, a set of points of light will be seen with variable intensity due to the contrast between areas of direct light and areas of shade, causing a sparkling effect.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles comprising:
 a substrate ( 2 ); 
 a decorative lining ( 3 ) that covers one of the faces ( 2 . 1 ) of the substrate ( 2 ) comprising:
 a first layer ( 3 . 1 ) of knit fabric located nearest the substrate ( 2 ); 
 a second layer ( 3 . 2 ) of knit fabric located farther away from the substrate ( 2 ); and 
 an intermediate layer ( 3 . 3 ) formed by threads ( 3 . 3 . 1 ) that connect said first layer ( 3 . 1 ) and second layer ( 3 . 2 ); 
 
 wherein said first layer ( 3 . 1 ), second layer ( 3 . 2 ) and intermediate layer ( 3 . 3 ) form a single three-dimensional knit fabric; 
 a set of LEDs ( 4 ) placed between the substrate ( 2 ) and the decorative lining ( 3 ), wherein said LEDs ( 4 ) have a dimension “a” corresponding to the minimum width of the light emission surface of the LED ( 4 ); 
 wherein the first layer ( 3 . 1 ) includes opaque threads ( 3 . 1 . 1 ) knitted to one another to form orifices ( 3 . 1 . 2 ) with a maximum dimension “b” that is smaller than the dimension “a”; 
 wherein the threads ( 3 . 3 . 1 ) that form the intermediate layer ( 3 . 3 ) are opaque; 
 and wherein the LEDs ( 4 ) are in contact with the first layer ( 3 . 1 ). 
 
     
     
       2. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein the LEDS ( 4 ) have an emission angle θ under 145°. 
     
     
       3. Illuminated inner trim for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein the second layer ( 3 . 2 ) includes threads ( 3 . 2 . 1 ) knitted to one another to form orifices ( 3 . 2 . 2 ) with a minimum dimension “c” that is larger than the dimension “a”.